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Faith

This Is How Your Brain Reacts During Intense Prayer

Oct. 22, 2012 7:57am

Prayer is an essential component in the Judeo-Christian tradition, as it is in many other faith systems. But — what does the act of prayer mean for those who engage in it? How does the human brain react to the practice? Dr. Andrew Newberg, director of research at Myrna Bring Center for Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University and Medical College, has set out to answer these very questions.

Newberg has studied faith and religion for decades, specifically where these tenets intersect with neuroscience. In a recent study, the doctor injected subjects with a harmless radioactive dye. Then, while they engaged in prayer or meditation, he monitored their brain activity to see how the religious act impacted them. According to The Huffington Post, after being injected, the dye goes to the part of the brain where blood flow is strongest (i.e. the most active part of the brain).

Dr. Andrew Newberg Explores Prayers Impact on the Brain

This is a scan showing the brain before prayer and during intense prayer. (Photo Credit: Science)

In a report that recently aired on Science’s network’s “Through the Wormhole,” Newberg explained the study and how prayer appears to impact the human brain. In the clip, a Presbyterian minister was deep in prayerful worship, as the researcher monitored her to observe the impact. Interestingly, the scans showed that the frontal lobes and the language area of the brain experienced noticeably-increased activity.

This is noteworthy for a number of reasons. Consider that many evangelical Christians describe their prayer experience as a personal relationship in which they speak directly with God. Many times, a comparison is made between the faithful’s relationship with the Almighty and friendships that people have with one another. In this sense, God is viewed as a friend who is willing to listen — and to speak back — to those who pray.

Dr. Andrew Newberg Explores Prayers Impact on the Brain

This is a scan showing an atheist’s brain before and contemplating God. Notice, there is no change in brain activity in the frontal lobes and language center. (Photo Credit: Science)

This description of prayer is important, seeing as the frontal lobes and language portions of the brain activate during conversation. As a result, Newberg believes that the brain reacts during Judeo-Christian prayer in the same way that it does when someone is talking to a friend, co-worker, etc.

“To the brain, talking to God is indistinguishable to talking to a person,” narrator Morgan Freeman proclaimed.

Watch Newberg describe his research, below:

“They are really having this kind of experience,” Newberg said of the faithful and prayer. “The experience is, at least, neurotically real.”

Interestingly, though, while atheists and non-believers spend time meditating or contemplating God’s existence, no impact on the brain is observed in the frontal lobe.

(H/T: Huffington Post)

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Comments (81)

1 2
  • SlushPuppyKing
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 2:27pm

    This is one of the dumbest things ever posted here. Your brain scans would produce the exact same thing if you were talking to your dog or cat!!!!

    And what is the point trying to be made when stating atheist and non believers don’t have similar results when contemplating god? No kidding, the ENTIRE article is about speaking with God so why would the results be the same if thinking about his existence? The results would be the same for a Christian merely thinking about God, not praying to him.

    I assume the results would be similar if you were thinking about making a sandwich……LOL

    Report this comment

    SlushPuppyKing  
    • buzzkill59
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 5:05pm

      They talked about atheists and non-believers because the reaction was different than those of believers! So your assertion that it would be the same as talking to your cat or dog is ridiculous!Believers experience closeness and comfort when praying to God but atheists do not.Why?If you have no relationship with God then there would be no closeness,no bond,and no comfort.You go ahead and talk to your dog or cat or turtle or whatever,I’ll keep talking to God.

      Report this comment

      buzzkill59  
    • DisgustedinUSA
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 5:29pm

      Nothing dumb about this. You just can’t handle the FACT that you have a TINY brain because you dont believe in God or pray to Him. If you dont believe in Him, the bible says, He doesn’t even hear your prayers. You’re not His. You’re too closed minded, you need to think out of your box. God is MUCH bigger than you’ll ever know. Don’t miss out on Him because of your own personal pride.

      Report this comment

      DisgustedinUSA  
    • thetruthseeker711
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 6:16pm

      So what’s your pont? My dog and I talk all the time. But I could be dyslexic.

      Report this comment

      thetruthseeker711  
    • patricking49
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 7:50pm

      What Buzzkill59 means is, he’ll keep talking to the part of himself that he thinks is God. The hubris these nut jobs bring to the table! Sure, the being that created the universe talks specially to you… and you can talk to him and make him do stuff for you. If you was talking about unicorns or vampires or Martians, very few would take you seriously. Because a gang of con men have been collecting money in the name of “God” for 1500 years, we’re all expected to give your fantasy credence. As far as I’m concerned you are welcome to believe 6 impossible things every morning before breakfast. But when you start imposing this crap on people like me through legislation, we have a very big problem. What I believe, very sincerely, is that religious people are dupes. You should all hire lawyers and sue these crooks. There are two types of religious leaders: schizophrenics and thieves.

      Report this comment

      patricking49  
  • izukiddin
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 1:59pm

    Billy, let’s get the facts straight. There is no implication by Christians in regard to Christians who pray that they are having a 2 way conversation with God despite what The Wormhole might say. I have prayed for quite some time and God has never talked back to me. The Holy Spirit will lead a person who prays in a direction, and God will sometimes answer and in other instances will not answer prayer with a desired result. We Christians pray in order to be close to God, to seek His direction and ask for His help .

    Report this comment

    izukiddin  
  • theotherberean
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 1:39pm

    Where are all the Mormons? I figured they would be coming out of the woodwork over this article, proclaiming the virtues of their “burnings in the bosom” which told them the BofM is true.

    Report this comment

    theotherberean  
  • angelcat
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 1:31pm

    Those of us who pray did not need this study to tell us this. We already knew it in our hearts nd minds.

    Report this comment

    angelcat  
    • TunaBlue
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 2:01pm

      I have mild frontal lobe seizures occasionally–at least that’s what the doctors think they are–and those episodes are the most spiritually uplifting experiences I have ever had. After the first episode, I began praying several times a day just to find that place of peace. I don’t speculate as to the significance of the episodes, I’ve learned to let them happen and go with the flow.

      Report this comment

      TunaBlue  
  • tradcatholicgirl
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 1:02pm

    “The experience is, at least, neurotically real.”

    Neurotically????

    Did the author mean to write “neurologically” real?

    Report this comment

    tradcatholicgirl  
  • KENTUCKIANAPATRIOT
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 12:23pm

    Thanks, Blaze…..we needed a good laugh today. We can always count on the WORLD to INFORM/EDUCATE the WORLD on all “things” SPIRITUAL!!! My goodness, the poor fools just CANNOT stop proving the Bible to be true–and oh, so timely! The more the ‘world’ does to show itself–the less it AND the worldly understand what is actually being accomplished! WOW!!!

    Report this comment

    KENTUCKIANAPATRIOT  
    • TAXEVERYONE
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 12:35pm

      We all wish we could be as smart as you.
      Your family must be very proud.

      Report this comment

      TAXEVERYONE  
    • stage9
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 12:56pm

      “Interestingly, though, while atheists and non-believers spend time meditating or contemplating God’s existence, no impact on the brain is observed in the frontal lobe.”

      ’nuff said.

      Report this comment

      stage9  
    • FFTyranny
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 1:06pm

      2 Corinthians 4:4
      In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

      Romans 1:19
      For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

      Psalm 14:1-3 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none that does good. The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any that act wisely, that seek after God. They have all gone astray, they are all alike corrupt; there is none that does good, no, not one.

      Revelation 20:11-15
      Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

      Report this comment

      FFTyranny  
  • voting-for-romney
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 12:14pm

    Do you want a non-technical explanation of how your brain reacts to God when you pray? Listen to Glenn Beck explain that people can drill for oil through his easy chair, in his living room, that’s what it feels like to pray to God?

    Report this comment

    voting-for-romney  
  • G-WHIZ
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 10:20am

    And this is how your [be-head] looks-like after Sharia Law!!

    Report this comment

    G-WHIZ  
    • JRook
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 11:35am

      And of course the study results would be identical if the person was “talking” to their dead mother or other loved one. For those who are interested go see the dramatic neurological changes that occurs in the Tibetan Monks. Now that is something to behold.

      Report this comment

      JRook  
    • The_Cabrito_Goat
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 11:48am

      Aside from G-Wiz’s ‘brilliant’ pun, I think this brings up an interesting dynamic between Islamic views and Christian views pertaining to ‘the image of our creator’.

      In Islam, depicting their prophet or Allah is punishable by death, because he is seen as an etheral, unknowable, undecipherable being.

      But in Christianity, just look at some of the Renaissance art. God is almost always depicted as a well-built, albeit, older gentlemen.

      Why am I bringing this up? Let’s look at the differences in interpretive tradition:

      For Islam, since they believe they weren’t made in the image of the creator, they do not see their body’s as similar to Allah. Therefore they do not “treat their body like a temple” (thus leading wiping themselves with their hands, having relations with animals and other men, and a general lower quality of sanitation)

      But for Christians, we see ourselves as figures inspired by the image of God. And so we treat our bodies like temples within Western cultures. We shun people who don’t take care of their bodies, because it shows they do not show respect for God’s creation. (But for people I know who have glandular problems, this is unfortunate but excusable)

      BACK ON TOPIC I doubt a Shariah controlled scientific department would ever let this information see the light of day. In their views, Allah and the prophet are immortal. They are unknowable. (Thus the tradition of the 99 names, with the 100th being forbidden)

      Food for thought

      Report this comment

      The_Cabrito_Goat  
  • Proverbs17-12NLT
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 10:20am

    I wonder what obamas brain looks like when he’s lying to the American people?

    Report this comment

    Proverbs17-12NLT  
    • The_Cabrito_Goat
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 11:53am

      I’ve seen what I think were MRI’s of compulsive liars. And they do light up different areas, I think around the lower left and right, but I forget what those are called. Any neurologists out there want to free me of my ignorance?

      Report this comment

      The_Cabrito_Goat  
  • jcldwl
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 10:02am

    Gotta love this last statement of the article. “Interestingly, though, while atheists and non-believers spend time meditating or contemplating God’s existence, no impact on the brain is observed in the frontal lobe”
    God does make a difference in your life. He leads you away from the self centered life of non-belief and opens your world to a much more rewarding life of faith, love, and charity.

    Report this comment

    jcldwl  
    • Calm Voice of Reason
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 11:04am

      That would be because the kind of meditation being talked about is the exact opposite of prayer. What one attempts to do is clear one’s mind of all thoughts and increase beta wave activity: both things that would show no activity in this experiment. The author of the article is implying a claim that atheist/non-religious meditation activity is fruitless and only prayer has a neurological effect. This claim is unsupported from the evidence of the article nor can it logically follow from the premise.

      Report this comment

      Calm Voice of Reason  
    • ValiantDefender
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 11:31am

      @foxhole – That would be sick people who don’t understand Christ’s teaching.

      What part of the brain is active when someone is not talking, but just listening/processing language? That would be interesting as well.

      I believe in God, so take my following hypothesis in that light.

      If God exists and He performs an action and that action was observable/measurable, it would not serve to prove/disprove His existence. Believers will see it as confirmation. non-believers will see it as a physical phenomena and insist that believers have “created” God.

      My long standing hypothesis is summed up by a statement in this article: “its real, at least neurologically”.

      Report this comment

      ValiantDefender  
    • The_Cabrito_Goat
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 11:51am

      Calm voice brings up interesting data about brain waves. I meditate as opposed to praying. Why? I just cannot feel a ‘presence’ in me when I’m on my knees praying, and I feel foolish.

      But meditation works for me, because it brings about those “beta-waves” you described, which are highly restorative to brain function and overall health.

      (Anyone want to help me with my prayer problem?)

      Report this comment

      The_Cabrito_Goat  
    • Tomswitts21
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 2:08pm

      Very interesting but, if you think about it…it makes sense. As a Christian I am actively prayerful truthfully seeking God, and yes I see Him everyday. In the case of atheists or other belief systems for example Buddhism. They are not seeking anything truthfully, atheists means they believe( or rather choose to not believe) in God. Buddhists believe their achieving a higher being which is themselves. If you put the two in a test like this and say…pray to God or meditate on the thought of Him the mind is convinced on the atheists idea, “there is no god” therefore the mind cannot truthfully seek Him. And in the Buddhists mind they are the next best thing therefore emptying their mind which causes a relaxed state to the brain making it less active and just as the atheist not truthfully seek something other than their minds idea of “their god.” food for thought

      Report this comment

      Tomswitts21  
  • sizzlinsexybeckster
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 10:00am

    Yes God exists.

    The reason why the atheist mind does not respond is because they do not believe in what they are doing…. they are not feeling anything… they are disconnected with emotions towards the other side, whether it’s thru stubbornness, or in denial… they are unaware of how much they are actually holding themselves back. Therefore, a response is almost inconclusive… nonexistent.

    The power of prayer actually can go much deeper than the mind, but within the soul where miracles can be born. But this won’t ever be physically discovered since we can’t see a soul on an x-ray. However, I just know this stuff with lots of personal experience, however, a lot is too private to mention… and you’d never believe it anyways.

    Yes, there is God, life after death, another world waiting for us after life on earth… However, God is not a man but the powerful energy source that is quite alive and houses all the souls on the other side. God is love, light, internal beauty and spirit. People call God “he, him” because it makes them feel more comfortable, however that is not who “he” is. God is not a “he” “she” or “it”. However most humans can only believe what they can see. Believe me, I’ve felt the other side, heard and seen them, had visits from dead relatives, strangers, ghosts and spirits – even dressed in garb from the 1800′s. I get glimpses of the future all the time. Believe.

    Report this comment

    sizzlinsexybeckster  
    • breakobamanow
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 10:56am

      I am here to inform you, God has something to say about your experiences. Take heed and put them away from you. These are familiar spirits; a necromancer is someone who consults with the dead. I believe in God and my LORD and Savior Jesus Christ but I do not have these types of spirits, or feelings. God speaks to me through the pages of the bible, his written word, and that is where his spirit is and his words are what guide me. May his words open your eyes to the truth.

      Deuteronomy 18:10-12
      King James Version (KJV)

      10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.

      11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

      12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

      Report this comment

      breakobamanow  
    • DeavonReye
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 11:08am

      Ah yes. . . . the “you’re not doing it like I say, . . . so you’re getting these things from demons”. Prove it.

      Sizzlin, . . . I found your post interesting. Thanks for posting it.

      Report this comment

      DeavonReye  
    • breakobamanow
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 11:19am

      Devon… not my words but Gods words, I’m just the messenger and was not saying this to offend but to help Sizzlin.

      Report this comment

      breakobamanow  
    • DeavonReye
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 11:40am

      Break, I am aware that you believe your ideology to be “god’s word”. You are free to hold those views. However, my point is. . . neither world view has any more or any less credibility, so to say that someone’s experiences were “demons in disguise” is just opinion. Just like MY world view sees ancient biblical texts as the works of man only.

      Again, I understand that, from your religious aspect point, Sizzlin is “unknowingly associating with demons”. It just isn’t demonstrable.

      Report this comment

      DeavonReye  
    • sizzlinsexybeckster
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 12:51pm

      @breakobamanow – I am aware of your concern and thanks for your comment. I understand all about witches and communicating with the dead and receiving things that will happen in the future. That does not mean I am a demon. I am fully loaded up with love and believe in God. I hate no one… not even Obama. I’m not voting for him, however he was raised by humans, indoctrinated, etc etc to make him the way he is… he wants all Americans dead. Now that is creepy, nothing to blame God for, God does not make monsters – people do. Some people do not see the help given to them from the other side. Howard Stern was given 4 daughters with his previous wife to show him all women are individuals who have their own minds to be respected. He didn’t get that. He had 4 chances. He still demeans women all the time like an immoral ass. Everyone is sent something to help them see the light to change their lives for the better. Not everyone allows themselves to see it. No, I am not a Demon. I’d rather side myself with Glenda, not the wicked witch of the west on Wizard of Oz. Everyone has this power, just like you only use a small percentage of your brain – tap into the other side and you yourself may find this. Seeing dead people still scares me, but I think it’s rather neat.

      @DeavonReye – Thanks for sticking up for me. I also believe the bible was written by man. Man wants to control everything. But I believe in God.

      Report this comment

      sizzlinsexybeckster  
    • theotherberean
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 1:18pm

      @BREAK is right. You are dabbling in the occult, which is forbidden of Christians.

      There really is a dark side, but I wouldn’t invite that spirit in if I were you.

      Report this comment

      theotherberean  
    • DeavonReye
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 1:37pm

      Sizzlin, I’m all for having an experience [or experiences] that you have. Too many times, however, people see something that may run contrary to their own “faith” and see “demonic works” there. It is commonplace to pronounce something “evil” if you don’t understand it. I don’t have any experiences with any supernatural agents, though I do not rule it out. . . and often hope it will happen.

      I am interested in hearing what experiences you have had. If you don’t want to share them on this forum, that’s cool.

      Report this comment

      DeavonReye  
    • Vezzy
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 4:38pm

      Are you from the planet Monona?

      Report this comment

      Vezzy  
    • breakobamanow
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 9:44pm

      1 Peter 2:8
      And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

      Report this comment

      breakobamanow  
  • DeavonReye
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 9:40am

    “Interestingly, though, while atheists and non-believers spend time meditating or contemplating God’s existence, no impact on the brain is observed in the frontal lobe.”

    Not surprising. You must first BELIEVE you are having a conversation. Without that, there WOULDN’T be any obvservable reations. I know that many of you will see this test one way, . . . but it makes sense to the non-believer as well [not in the same way you "see" the data points]. Brain chemistry causes MANY reactions that seem “so true”. But they [chemicals] can lie.

    Report this comment

    DeavonReye  
  • IMCHRISTIAN
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 9:39am

    I can’t speak for anyone but myself but when I am stressed or asking in prayer for someone else that is in need, I always get a feeling of relief and I know he exist through faith. We cannot tell God what to do just leave the prayer subject in His hand. I have had more then one experience of something that lets me know He is working according to His way that I may not always understand but I have this feeling of complete comfort and knowledge that He is in control. God Loves us all. Try it you might want to pray always,

    Report this comment

    IMCHRISTIAN  
    • breakobamanow
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 11:06am

      Amen, He speaks through his words and he reveals things in the Bible that others have yet to understand. He is shows me things that I have prayed about; sometimes when I read the bible I know his spirit resides in his wods, when I get a revealing in something he said, I sometimes break out into sobbing. He is the true Almighty God, LORD and King.

      Report this comment

      breakobamanow  
    • breakobamanow
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 11:15am

      sorry for the typos; should have been He shows, and in his words.

      Report this comment

      breakobamanow  
    • IMCHRISTIAN
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 3:14pm

      Break don’t worry about typos I do a lot of those lol. It is what I read in your heart and soul that I got out of your post. Have a good life and God Bless

      Report this comment

      IMCHRISTIAN  
  • Tractorboy
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 8:56am

    What they haved proved here is that us Jedeo-Christains aren’t just talking, that we believe what we say, seems to be a scientific lie detector test.~~~~Also shows why Atheist are so combative, they think we just make this stuff up and we don’t really believe it~~~~ Prayer works, God wants a relationship with you, talk to him.God Bless

    Report this comment

    Tractorboy  
  • watashbuddyfriend
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 8:53am

    Well, now, Dr. Andrew Newberg, I can agree that prayer does work via triggering the chemicals in the brain, causing healing of the body of the individual making the prayer! But, it does not work for another, when it comes to healing, if I come to God for such in another person! Could be that if I, and the person needing the healing were in the same location, that it might work for that person.

    Report this comment

    watashbuddyfriend  
    • shogun459
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 9:37am

      Sorry, Wrong-O Marylou. A study done on prayer and HEALING discovered that a sick person’s condition and attitude emproved when others prayed for them, even when the subjects were unaware of the prayers.

      The subjects belief in prayer didn’t seem to matter either.

      Report this comment

      shogun459  
    • theotherberean
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 1:15pm

      It’s still God who does the healing. He sometimes rewards faith in this manner, but not always. It depends on His Plan.

      Report this comment

      theotherberean  
  • Exiled
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 8:39am

    So they’re saying that when I talk to God in prayer, that my brain thinks I’m talking to God during my prayer? How many researchers did it take to come up with that?

    Report this comment

    Exiled  
  • loneindividual
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 8:36am

    There’s actually less activity in an Atheists brain when they “Meditate”.

    LOL

    Take a look at the picture again!!!!!!!!!!

    Holy ****ing ****balls this test was either very flawed or extremely revealing.

    ps: I’m Former Mormon gone Deist (I don’t pray for anything or hope for my own salvation) and I still make fun of Atheists ALL DAMN DAY LONG!

    Report this comment

    loneindividual  
  • Taquoshi
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 8:33am

    “To the brain, talking to God is indistinguishable to talking to a person,” narrator Morgan Freeman proclaimed.

    Yeah, Morgan. You go on just talking to your buds. I, however, have an appointment to talk with the Creator of the Universe.

    Report this comment

    Taquoshi  
    • M13
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 10:47pm

      Talking to Encinom is indistinguishable to talking to an idiot right?

      Report this comment

      M13  
  • klevalt
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 8:33am

    It is interesting that Morgan Freeman has anything to do with this, seeing how he thinks that he himself is god.

    Report this comment

    klevalt  
  • SaturdaysWarrior76
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 8:27am

    That’s all pretty cool…but…(in my opinion) prayer isn’t so much about the experience of the brain…but more about the experience of the spirit or soul.

    Report this comment

    SaturdaysWarrior76  
  • jrc99
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 8:24am

    WOW!!! Very interesting! Another step in proving the existence of God. Well done!

    Report this comment

    jrc99  
    • DeavonReye
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 9:35am

      Uh, . . .it isn’t a step in that direction at all. If you ask an actual neuroscientist, you may find the explaination less than a “god proof”.

      Report this comment

      DeavonReye  
    • jackact
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 10:01am

      Sorry, sucker.
      America no longer subscribes to ‘UNSETTLED SCIENCE’.
      We grew up during the past 4 years.
      You can’t fool us anymore.
      :)

      Report this comment

      jackact  
  • Eastinfection
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 8:23am

    “the doctor injected subjects with a harmless radioactive dye…”

    Wait…. What?

    Report this comment

    Eastinfection  
    • Calm Voice of Reason
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 11:36am

      Yes, there are doses of radiation that are completely harmless.

      Report this comment

      Calm Voice of Reason  
    • The_Cabrito_Goat
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 11:57am

      True. There is more background radiation emitted by the limestone in Grand Central Station NY than there is in Chernobyl, Russia.

      Ann Coulter got made fun of for saying radiation isn’t all that harmful, when it’s true. However, it depends on the half-life (decay rate) of the chemical. If it’s fast, watch out. If it takes eons for plutonium to decay, then the amount of weird electrons are safe.

      One scientist even went as far to prove a point by EATING tablespoons of plutonium.

      Report this comment

      The_Cabrito_Goat  
  • guz75
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 8:19am

    I don’t really understand the point of this?

    I’ve just started a new job that involves negotiating with management within the music industry and when I’m on the train heading to a meeting, I play out the points that I want to put across in my head, against the sort of person I think I’ll be dealing with. I tend to zone out a bit and have to be careful not to talk out loud, but I guarantee this would also stimulate the same parts of the brain.

    The last part of the article is just stating the bleeding obvious; ‘while atheists and non-believers spend time meditating or contemplating God’s existence, no impact on the brain is observed in the frontal lobe’. a) meditation is about clearing the mind. b)Contemplating something, doesn’t involve trying to communicate with someone. So it’s hardly surprising these things don’t cause activity in the frontal lobe.

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    guz75  
  • jackact
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 8:13am

    Brain reaction during Judeo-Christian prayer……”God is great,God is love, God is refuge, strength, faith and salvation”
    Brain reaction during fundamentalist Islamic extremist prayer….”Our God is better than yours and if you don’t believe us…we’ll kill you. In fact we’ll kill you anyway”
    Big difference right?
    :(

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    jackact  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on October 22, 2012 at 8:04am

    I am pretty sure science will never prove or disprove the existence of God. That’s why they call it faith.

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    Gonzo  
    • PittsburghAfterDark
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 8:15am

      I am far more willing to accept science will be able to prove the existence of God than philosophers or scientists can disprove Him.

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      PittsburghAfterDark  
    • piplovestheUSA
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 8:24am

      Spot on Gonzo

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      piplovestheUSA  
    • Eastinfection
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 8:26am

      The day that the scientific community reaches some sort of consensus agreeing that God exists is the day i officially switch from “Deist” to “Agnostic”.

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      Eastinfection  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 11:29am

      I wouldn’t it have it any other way GONZO. Faith would be worthless if God performed magic tricks each time a godless liberal demanded “proof” from him.
      He did what he needed to do in Israel two thousand years ago. His son said what needed to be said two thousand years ago in Israel. His son did the task that needed to be done two thousand years ago in Israel.
      Think about it GONZO..let’s say Jesus did all those things today…knowing the society we have today, 24 hour sensory overload..would it be any different? The unbelievers would claim it’s all a scam like they do already, it’s never going to be enough for them. Faith has value but the godless liberals want to make it cheap and meaningless.

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      AvengerK  
    • DeavonReye
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 12:03pm

      Avengerk, . . . that’s because people have been gullible to “snake oil salemen” for millenia. Would it be different if Jesus had come back today? We cannot answer that.

      However, if “all god had to do was do something for a VERY short time in history”, . . . . choosing a very ignorant, superstitious, and rather barbaric area of ancient Palestine to “show up at”, . . . do a few “miracles” that a few people wrote about, . . . . . . . those writings debated, revised, and updated for centuries, much rewrote to make things according to what was popular at the time, . . . . . . if THAT is “all we need”, then it was about the WORST way to go about “getting your message out there” if you’re an omnipotent god who COULD have done it far better. Relying on the human word? Never to be seen again? No. Much MUCH more is required before any true decision can be made.

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      DeavonReye  
    • theotherberean
      Posted on October 22, 2012 at 1:31pm

      Actually it’s probably a good thing the miracles did happen during that time. The bible says knowledge will increase, and It’s easy to fake just about anything today, but back then raising a dead person or healing a cripple, or a blind and deaf person seeing and hearing, left little doubt that what they witnessed was divine intervention.

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      theotherberean  
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